26-18 Ambulance Billing and Collection Services

The Town of Westford, Massachusetts is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure and implement a next-generation firewall (NGFW) replacement solution that consolidates nine existing firewalls and nine content filtering devices into four NGFW appliances across multiple municipal sites. The procurement seeks qualified vendors capable of providing comprehensive services including design, procurement, installation, configuration, testing, commissioning, software licensing, professional installation and configuration services, personnel training, and ongoing technical support for a defined contract term. Key objectives include modernizing the Town's network security infrastructure while reducing complexity and maintenance burden associated with managing multiple discrete systems. Required vendor qualifications include demonstrated experience deploying similar NGFW solutions in municipal or comparable government environments, with detailed implementation timelines and methodologies. Evaluation criteria focus on technical capability, vendor experience, implementation methodology, ongoing support and maintenance offerings, and total cost of ownership. The proposal submission deadline is June 4, 2026, with a posted date of May 20, 2026. The RFP documentation indicates that site visits and a mandatory bidders conference will be offered to allow vendors to assess the current environment and clarify project requirements with Town representatives.

The RFP documentation does not specify set-aside designations, restrictions on responding organizations, disadvantaged enterprise requirements, or incumbent vendor information. Similarly, no specific award value or budget range is provided in the available RFP materials. Pricing submissions should include all hardware, software, implementation labor, travel, testing, and first-year support costs, with clearly delineated costs for optional extended maintenance and support periods beyond the initial contract term. Vendors must address integration with the Town's existing infrastructure and demonstrate understanding of the municipal government environment's unique operational and security requirements. The procurement represents a significant technology modernization initiative focused on network security infrastructure consolidation and operational efficiency improvements.